ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- The Cuomo administration has permitted State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico to collect his city police pension on top of his $136,000 annual salary, saying it had become "financially impossible" for him to keep his post without it.

D'Amico, former deputy chief who retired from the New York Police Department after 27 years, later became chief investigator for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and was chosen by Gov. Cuomo to head the statewide police force with almost 5,000 officers starting in 2011.

The New York Post, which first reported the recent Civil Service Commission waiver to permit the so-called "double dipping," notes Cuomo aides initially said D'Amico would forgo his $85,000-a-year pension while taking the salary.

An administration spokesman says they have reduced waivers from 105 to 44 since Cuomo took office.